Read about different genes that are linked to hereditary cancer, their associated risks and guidelines for screening, preventing and treating cancers in people with inherited mutations in these genes.
Cancer treatment for people with mutations
People with an inherited mutation who have been diagnosed with cancer may have different treatment options than people without a mutation. To learn more about standard of care treatment options for specific types of cancer, visit our section on Cancer Treatment by Cancer Type.
If you have an inherited mutation, have been diagnosed with cancer and any of the situations below apply to you, you may want to speak to your doctor about your medical options. You may also consider enrolling in a clinical trial studying which treatments work best for people with an inherited mutation.
- You have prostate cancer
- You have advanced ovarian cancer
- You have advanced pancreatic cancer
- You have been diagnosed with breast cancer
- You are making breast cancer surgical decisions
PARP inhibitors
PARP inhibitors are a type of that work by blocking a protein used to repair damaged . They were initially developed to treat cancers in people with an inherited or mutation. Since then, research and additional approvals have expanded use of PARP inhibitors to more situations. People with a mutation who have been diagnosed with cancer may want to ask their doctor about therapy.
prostate cancer
The , Lynparza (olaparib) has received FDA-approval to treat men with , castration-resistent cancer, who have a mutation in or another gene linked to a certain type of damage repair. Lynparza may be used to treat men whose cancer has progressed on enzalutamide (Xtandi) or abiraterone (Zytiga).
PARP inhibitors for advanced ovarian, or primary peritoneal cancer
Several PARP inhibitors have been approved to treat ovarian cancers at different stages of the disease. In some situations, a tumor known as an test ("hemologous recombination deficiency") can help women with an inherited mutation and advanced ovarian cancer learn if they may benefit from a .
- after first-line treatment
- testing can help women with an inherited mutation and advanced ovarian cancer learn if they may benefit from the Lynparza?(olaparib) in combination with bevacizumab as after first-line platinum chemotherapy.
- is approved for in women with advanced ovarian, , or primary peritoneal cancer who had a complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. for does not require an test.
- after treatment of recurrent cancer
- and () are both approved for maintenance therapy in women with recurrent epithelial ovarian, , or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum based chemotherapy.
- and () are both approved for maintenance therapy in women with recurrent epithelial ovarian, , or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum based chemotherapy.
PARP inhibitors for pancreatic cancer
Although PARP inhibitors have not specifically received approval to treat panceratic cancer in people with mutations, the American Society of Medical Genetics released a paper suggesting that people with mutations and cancer should be considered for the same treatments and clinical trials as people with a or mutation. The Lynparza is approved for maintenance treatment of pancreatic cancer in people with a mutation whose disease has not progressed after completing first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.
PARP inhibitors for breast cancer
Although PARP inhibitors have not specifically received approval to treat breast cancer in people with mutations, the American Society of Medical Genetics released a paper suggesting that people with mutations and cancer should be considered for the same treatments and clinical trials as people with a or mutation. Below are guidelines for PARP inhibitors for treating breast cancer in people with a or mutation.
- Treatment for breast cancer: The PARP inhibitors, Lynparza (also known as olaparib) and (also known as ) both have received approval for treating breast cancer caused by a mutation.
- Treatment for breast cancer: Based on results from a large clinical trial, experts recommend one year of the olaparib for people with , breast cancer who have an inherited mutation and who are at high risk for recurrence.
Breast cancer surgical decisions
Because of the high risk for a second breast cancer diagnosis, women who are diagnosed with breast cancer who test positive for an inherited mutation in may choose mastectomy rather than and radiation. Mutation carriers who undergo mastectomy are less likely to develop a second breast cancer.
Get Support
FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations.
- Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once registered, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Our Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
- Our moderated, private Facebook group allows you to connect with other community members 24/7.
- Check out our virtual and in-person support meeting calendar.
- Join one of our Zoom community group meetings.
updated: 08/06/2022
Related Resources
The following resources focus on mutations.
- FORCE resources:
- Information: gene mutations
- Video: What's new for people with , or mutations?
- Video: Cancer Risks, Screening & Prevention for People w/ , , & Other Genes
- Video: Genes Associated with Risk: Live Q&A Panel
- Blog: I am a previvor
- Blog: Luck is more than just a rainbow: A previvor's story
- Blogs:
- XRAY category:
- Video: Meet a Member of our Community
updated: 11/14/2022
Paying For Care
Paying for cancer treatment
The majority of public and private health insurance plans are required to cover cancer diagnosis and treatment; copays, coinsurance and deductibles often apply. Patient costs and coverage for specific doctors, facilities or treatments may vary based on your health plan. Visit our section on Insurance and Paying for Care: Treatment for more information, links to sample appeal letters and other resources.
If you need information about finding an insurance plan, watch our video: Choosing Wisely: How to Pick Insurance Plans.
Some pharmaceutical companies have assistance programs that help cover the cost for their medications:
- Astellas Patient Assistance Program
- AstraZeneca Access 360
- Bayer US Patient Assistance Foundation
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation
- Eisai Patient Assistance Program
- Genentech Access Solutions
- GSK for You
- Janssen Patient Access Program
- LIlly Cares
- Merck Helps
- Pfizer Oncology Together
- Novartis Patient Assistance
- Sanofi Patient Connection
- Seattle Genetics' SeaGen Secure
- Taiho's Patient Support Program
- Takeda's Help at Hand
- Trodelvy Access Services
Organizations that offer co-pay assistance:
- Cancercare
- Patient Advocate Foundation
- Colorectal Cancer Alliance offers financial support to people in treatment for colorectal cancer.
Other resources:
- The American Cancer Society provides information and resources on covering the cost of cancer care. Public assistance, such as Medicaid may be available if you are ineligible for other programs.
- Needy Meds: Assistance programs to help patients with cost of medications and other healthcare.
- Triage Cancer offers tools and resources to help individuals cope with the financial aspects of a cancer diagnosis.
updated: 11/20/2022
Open Clinical Trials
The following are studies looking at treatment for people with advanced .
- NCT05252390: NUV-868 Alone and in Combination With PARP Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced . This study will test how safe and effective the experimental drug NUV-868 is by itself and in combination with a in people with advanced . This study is open to people whose cancer stopped responding or progressed on PARP inhibitors.
- NCT05169437: () in patients with inherited or tumor mutations in advanced (PAVO). PAVO is a Phase II study investigating if the study drug, a called , is safe and effective for certain people who have been diagnosed with an advanced solid tumor with either an inherited or tumor mutation.
- NCT02264678: Ascending Doses of Ceralasertib in Combination With Chemotherapy and/or Novel Anti Cancer Agents. This is a study of ceralasertib administered orally in combination with chemotherapy regimens and/or novel anti-cancer agents, to patients with advanced cancer. The study is enrolling people with inherited mutations including , , , , and people with tumors that are HRD-positive.
- NCT04644068: Study of AZD5305 as Monotherapy and in Combination With Anti-cancer Agents in Patients With Advanced Solid Malignancies (PETRA). This research is designed to learn if treatment with a new , AZD5305, alone, or in combination with anti-cancer agents is safe, tolerable, and has anti-cancer activity in patients with advanced . The study is open to people who have previously been treated with PARP inhibitors.
- NCT04267939: ATR Inhibitor Plus Study in Advanced and Ovarian Cancer. This study will look at how well how well people with advanced respond to treatment with the BAY1895344 in combination with the . This study is open to people with inherited mutations in , , and others. Contact the study coordinator for information about eligilibity for people with mutations in other genes.
- NCT04657068: Treatment with ATR Inhibitor for Advanced or Solid Tumors. This study will look at how well a new oral known as an ATR inhibitor works on advanced or with mutations in genes linked to damage repair. This study is open to people who have an inherited or acquired or mutation or people with tumors that are HRD-positive. This study is open to people whose cancer stopped responding or progressed on PARP inhibitors.
updated: 08/23/2022
Open Clinical Trials
The following are studies enrolling people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer:
- NCT04548752: Adding Pembrolizumab to Olaparib to Treat Pancreatic Cancer in People with an Inherited Mutation. This study is researching whether adding the drug Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to the Olaparib (Lynparza) works better than olaparib alone for treating pancreatic cancer in people with an inherited or mutation.
- NCT05252390: NUV-868 Alone and in Combination With PARP Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced .
This study will test how safe and effective the experimental drug NUV-868 is by itself and in combination with a in people with advanced . - NCT04229004: Precision Promise Platform Trial for Pancreatic Cancer. This study tests different treatments for pancreatic cancer.
- NCT04267939: ATR Inhibitor BAY 1895344 Plus Phase 1b Study in Advanced and Ovarian Cancer. This study will look at how well advanced respond to treatment with the BAY1895344 combined with the niraparib.
- NCT04493060: Treating Pancreatic Cancer with an Inherited or Tumor BRCA1/2 or Mutation with and Dostarlimab. This study looks at how well the and the drug dostarlimab work together in treating patients with pancreatic cancer, who have an inherited or tumor mutation in , , , , , or .
- NCT03337087: Treating Pancreatic, Colorectal, Gastroesophageal, or Biliary Cancer with Chemotherapy and This study will look at how the works with chemotherapy to treat people with pancreatic, colorectal, gastroesophageal or biliary cancer. The study will measure the best dose and look at the side effects of this combination of drugs.
- NCT04150042: A Study of Melphalan, BCNU, Vitamin B12b, Vitamin C and Stem Cell Infusion in People with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer and Mutations. This study will look at whether combining melphalan, BCNU, vitamin B12b and vitamin C, followed by autologous (self) bone marrow stem cell infusion, is safe and effective for treating people with advanced pancreatic cancer who have a or gene mutation.
- NCT04666740: Pembrolizumab and Olaparib for Pancreatic Cancer with or Exceptional Response to Platinum Chemotherapy. This is a study for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with a tumor test result called HRD-positive, or whose disease has responded well to first-line or second-line platinum therapy. The study will look at whether combining the drug pembrolizumab and the olaparib is a more effective treatment for this cancer than olaparib alone.
- NCT04858334: Olaparib or in Patients with Surgically Removed Pancreatic Cancer who have a , or Mutation (APOLLO). The purpose of EA2192 / APOLLO is to compare the usual approach (observation) to treatment for one year with olaparib, in patients with a , or mutation.
- NCT04657068: Treatment with ATR Inhibitor for Advanced or Solid Tumors. This study will look at how well a new oral known as an ATR inhibitor works on advanced or solid tumors with mutations in genes linked to damage repair. The study will look at the response to treatment with the drug ART0380 in combination with the chemotherapy agent, gemcitabine.
Other clinical trials for people with pancreatic cancer can be found here.
updated: 08/23/2022
Open Clinical Trials
The following are studies looking at treatment for cancer in people with muations:
Advanced
- NCT05169437: () in patients with inherited or tumor mutations in advanced (PAVO). PAVO is a Phase II study investigating if the study drug, a called , is safe and effective for certain people
- NCT04644068: Study of AZD5305 as Monotherapy and in Combination With Anti-cancer Agents in Patients With Advanced Solid Malignancies (PETRA). This research is designed to learn if treatment with a new , AZD5305, alone, or in combination with anti-cancer agents is safe, tolerable, and has anti-cancer activity in patients with advanced . The study is open to people who have previously been treated with PARP inhibitors.
- NCT04657068: Treatment with ATR Inhibitor for Advanced or Solid Tumors. This study will look at how well a new oral known as an ATR inhibitor works on advanced or with mutations in genes linked to damage repair. This study is open to people who have an inherited or acquired or mutation or people with tumors that are HRD-positive. This study is open to people whose cancer stopped responding or progressed on PARP inhibitors.
- NCT04267939: ATR Inhibitor Plus Study in Advanced and Ovarian Cancer. This study will look at how well how well people with advanced respond to treatment with the BAY1895344 in combination with the . This study is open to people with inherited mutations in , , and others. Contact the study coordinator for information about eligilibity for people with mutations in other genes.
Advanced breast cancer
- NCT03344965: A Phase 2 Study of Olaparib Monotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients with Germline or in Repair Genes (Olaparib Expanded). Olaparib Expanded is a study looking at whether the drug Olaparib is effective treatment for people with certain types of breast cancer.
- NCT02401347: Beyond (TBB) Trial. The goal of the study is to evaluate the anti-cancer activity of (a type of treatment known as a ) in patients with advanced breast cancer with specific genetic mutations based on a blood, saliva, or tumor test. This study is open to people with inherited mutations , , , , , , , , , and other genes.
A number of other clinical trials for treating patients with breast cancer can be found here.
breast cancer
- NCT04915755: Using Blood Test to Screen for Cancer in People Who Completed Treatment for TNBC and/or an Inherited or Tumor Mutation; Followed by Study Comparing with for People with Cancer Detected in their Blood (ZEST). The ZEST study has two parts, a screening portion that will look for evidence of cancer cell in the bloodstream, and an intervention portion that is open to people who test positive for cancer cell in their bloodstream.
-
NCT04584255: Treating HER2-Negative, , or PALB2-Associated Breast Cancer with a () and (Dostarlimab). This study will look at how well the drugs (a ) and Dostarlimab (an ) treat breast cancer in people with an inherited , or mutation.
A number of other clinical trials for treating patients with breast cancer can be found here.
Pancreatic cancer
The following are studies enrolling people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer:
- NCT04858334: Olaparib or in Patients with Surgically Removed Pancreatic Cancer who have a , or Mutation (APOLLO). The purpose of EA2192 / APOLLO is to compare the usual approach (observation) to treatment for one year with a drug called olaparib, in patients with a , or mutation.
- NCT04493060: Treating Pancreatic Cancer with an Inherited or Tumor BRCA1/2 or Mutation with and Dostarlimab. This study looks at how well the and the drug dostarlimab work together in treating patients with pancreatic cancer, who have an inherited or tumor mutation in one of these genes: , , , , , or .
- NCT03337087: Treating Pancreatic, Colorectal, Gastroesophageal, or Biliary Cancer with Chemotherapy and This study will look at how the works with chemotherapy in treating patients with pancreatic, colorectal, gastroesophageal or biliary cancer. The study will measure the best dose and look at side effects with this combination of drugs.
- NCT04229004: Precision Promise Platform Trial for Pancreatic Cancer. This study tests different treatments for pancreatic cancer.
- NCT04666740: Pembrolizumab and Olaparib for Pancreatic Cancer with or Exceptional Response to Platinum Chemotherapy. This is a study for people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with a tumor test result called HRD-positive, or whose disease has responded well to first-line or second-line platinum therapy. The study will look at whether combining the drug pembrolizumab and the olaparib is a more effective treatment for this cancer than taking olaparib alone.
A number of other clinical trials for people with pancreatic cancer can be found here.
updated: 10/05/2022